Customer Reviews

MCSE/MCSA Implementing and Administering Security in a Windows 2000 Network: Study Guide and DVD Training System (Exam 70-214)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Schmied and Shimonski do it again. This book is awesome. I took this exam because I want to learn more about securing Win2K servers and not only did it show me, it helped me to pass this exam (which was a doozy by the way). Good luck to anyone who passes this beast. I thought the DVD was pretty cool too. Its a useful tool when you are TOTALLY burnt on reading and want to just veg in front of the TV for a bit. Excellent work.

Syngress has hit a homerun with this 70-214 study guide and DVD combination. This book covers every aspect of this exam in very good detail and then offers you even more useful information that will go a long way towards keeping your network secure. The 2 hour DVD is an nice addition that hammers home some of the most important subjects. As well, the depth of the practice questions is superb...this is a rare thing anymore with study guides. This book is a sure fire winner that will help you to pass this exam...it sure did for me!!

This was the only 214 study guide available at the time I started my studies. Though I normally use Sybex/Exam Cram guides, I opted to give Syngress a try.

I found this book to be highly readable and that it provided excellent coverage of the exam objectives. Though I experimented with various security settings on a 2000 server and spent some hours reading related TechNet articles, this book served as the foundation of my 214 studies.

I agree with all of previous reviewers about the excellence of this book.

This book is one of the easiest reads for a security certification book on the market. First, I hate to read. Second, I hate to read security books because they are boring and poorly explain important concepts. This is not that book. This gets right to the core of what is necessary to pass the test the fist time! It gives you more than that though, because although the DVD skims over all of the areas of the exam, it works as a way to review the information that you need to know, lets say the night before the exam.

There are enough pictures so that you do not have to refer to the real thing, but at the same time, it is most helpful if you are already familiar with these interfaces because it will allow you to review some topics, while providing you with the needed configuration details on others. The chapter summaries are accurate, powerful and make concepts come together, as the author weaves detail after detail, so that you are confident in the subject matter.

Most of the time I will dabble in a practice exam or two, I didn't waste time on the practice test because I felt that after reviewing the book and reviewing the DVD the night before the exam I was well prepared for it. Bottom line is that if you are going to do the 70-214 Implementing & Administering Security in a Windows 2000 Network, you need this book (Period)!

Layout Summary:

Head of the class gives you the needed edge on concepts that everyone talks about.

Notes from the underground is the behind the scenes of what happening in the security world on topic.

Damage and Defense was a way for the author to convey the finer points of network access and how to mitigate vulnerabilities.

Note and Test Day Tips you should take as the advice from an elder because these are the golden eggs that will help you achieve your goal.

Too few certification books today provide the firm foundation that you need to be successful. They seem to focus on the questions you'll be asked. Although this book did provide direct feedback on what to expect out of the exam it also developed a firm foundation for what you need to know -- whether you take the exam or not.

In the past year of purchased and read 15 study guides. I rate this one the highest for organization, clarity, relevance, and usefulness as a reference. The practice questions in the book were ecelent and gave good explnations. It would have been nice if the additional practice questions were included in the CDROM instead of having to register online. The tutorial on line was very general and rather boring, but good for those times when you don't want to read.

This book rocks. Now that there is a major push towards the MCSA: Security, this test has become even more important. As an NT 4 MCSE and a 2000 MCSA, I definitely want to next take my Security+ and finish this new credential. As a Manager of a medium network, we do not have a security analyst so its up to use to lock down our own Microsoft servers so this book really helped. I REALLY loved the stuff with templates, which is a huge help. Although I have not taken the exam yet (so I can comment on if this book totally helps you with it), the amount of great information I picked up from reading this book has really given me a big boost at work. Thanks for the awesome stuff in this guide.

So many times, I have purchased computer books that out live there usefulness. Once you read them and used them as a study guide, the value of the book diminishes. This book is an excellent reference to add to your reference library. As you implement and improve your networks security, this book will be an excellent reference. The DVD is an excellent feature of the book providing over 2 hours worth of material. This book is necessary for those pursuing certification, and for those just wishing to learn more about network security. Will Schmied, Area 51 partners, and Syngress have teamed up to produce an excellent training system, and reference book.

Over the past 5 years usually I have already taken the certification test before reviewing the material, this way I can determine if the material would in fact help you pass the exam. For this book I decided to try it from the other way, use the book to see if I could pass the exam and this book did just that.

Having little experience with security in a Windows 2000 network environment I used this book as the primary source of material to study for the exam. I spent 2 solid weeks reading and practicing the labs, as well as watching the DVD videos. I passed the exam first on the first try on February 28th.

The book covers all objectives and I found the material to be right on the money with the exam questions I got. I also found that some of the material went beyond the actual exam which is certainly a bonus.

There were exercises with utilities like MBSA, URLScan, HFNetChk and QChain, which explain how to use the utility and when to use the utility. One thing I did find is the new version of MBSA has HFNetChk built in, so you may have to be flexible with the exercises. This can be fixed in the next edition.

Overall the material was very complete; there is also a web connection to Syngress where you can get a free web based exam. So if you are looking for a book that can help this one should work.

I have no intention of taking the exam, but found the book to be a real asset anyway. The concepts and material covered in this book are relevant, helpful, and made easy to grasp. This book is not likely to gather dust on my shelf. Way to go Will - great job. Keep'em coming.